Elite / Frontier Every Version of Elite

[Styggron]

I think you are right Styggron from my hazy memory I seem to remember something about the lenslok system getting binned because it was so unpopular but I could be wrong.

That is what my research shows. This means I still need to get a version on the Spectrum that HAS a lenslok AND to make things worse there are different coloured lensloks so I need to try to find them as well......... it's going to take a loooooooooooooooong time.

 

[Commander Mick]

Hello all. I have, what I think, is every version of the original Elite ever released. I have 26 in all.

Who wants to know what they all are?

I've seen your picture of all your games earlier and I was amazed and jealous at the same time. I didn't really know there had been so many versions, some of them improved, some of them lesser versions and two of them are sequels. Before recently, I had only really known of the BBC Micro, Spectrum Commodore 64,(Which I had owned) 128 (Which I am about to own) and Amiga. ( Unless those last two are the same one) The Archimedes and Elite Plus(Which I had only heard of since I started playing Oolite in the naughties) and the two sequels Frontier - Elite - Two, Frontier - Elite - Three - First Encounters (Apart from the Frontier - Elite - Two which I had seen in a shop in the early 90's. ( I never purchased that one, back then.) I had only heard of Frontier - Elite - Three - First Encounters since I had discovered Oolite as well.) and Oolite of course.

I think my problem with not finding about of these different versions of Elite was the lack of internet and television advertising games get today. Back then it was only through Computer Magazines that I had ever heard of the Spectrum and Commodore 64 version of Elite. Maybe the BBC Micro version as well. I'm not too sure about the Amstrad version. Though, I do recall reading about the Commodore 128 and Amiga version. I may have seen Frontier - Elite - Two advertised in a magazine as well, but was never really moved by it. For some strange reason.

I was by the early to mid 90's that I had stopped buying and reading computer magazines and wasn't until the really late 90's ad early naughties that the internet was revealed to me.

Very jealous. I have the BBC version of Elite and the PC version of Frontier. Don't Have First Encounters at all.

Originally, I had the Commodore 64 version and I am about get the Commodore 64/128 version and Frontier - Elite - Two for the Amiga as well. Both these games still have their original box, manual, and other game media.

I can get the original disk for Frontier - Elite - Three - First Encounters without the box or manual and other game media. It's on Ebay right now.

I've still got my old computers in the loaf somewhere...

They must be a bit crusty by now.

I still have my old Commodore 64 computer some where in the downstairs shed or carport. It's been missing the RV cable (That connects the computer to a monitor.) since I had moved back home in the mid 90s after a few years of living in a rented house with some mates from school. I have just recently ordered another RV cable for the Commodore 64 computer for a very cheap price from Sweden through Ebay.

I've got Frontier running on my Amiga 1200, which is nice to boot up occasionally, As great as emulators are theres nothing quite like playing it on the original equipment.

I would love a PC emulation of the Amiga version. I like how they added full colour but pixelated graphics to all the menus screens when you had docked your ship.

Is there any chance Oolite have a OXP of this version. I know they do have one of the Arc-Lite version.

Would be grand if Frontier Developments or whom ever now own the rights to re-release every version of Elite. That is every lesser version, every complete version, including the newer versions for the Amiga as well as the sequels in bundled package that works on PC. Sort of like a official emulation.

Hello all. I have, what I think, is every version of the original Elite ever released. I have 26 in all.

Who wants to know what they all are?

OK, I will also post all the pics, as I have complete and working boxed editions for all of the following (in no particular order) ;

Sinclair Spectrum 48k - Tape - Red Lenslock Edition
Amstrad CPC - Tape
Commodore 64 - Tape
Atari ST/STE Rainbird Edition - 3.5 Disk
Commodore Amiga Rainbird Edition - 3.5 Disk
Tatung Einstein - 3inch Disk
BBC Master 128k With 6502 Second Co-Processor - 5.25 Disk Acornsoft
IBM PC/Tandy 512k - 5.25 Disk
Sinclair Spectrum 48 OPUS Edition - 3.5 Disk
Pocket PC/iPAQ - CD
Apple II - 5.25 Disk
NES - Cartridge
Atari ST - 3.5 Disk - Firebird Edition
Sinclair Spectrum 48k - Tape - Black Lenslock Edition
Amstrad CPC - 3inch Disk
Commodore 64 - 5.25 Disk
BBC Model B - 5.25 Disk - Acornsoft Edition
Acorn Electron - Tape
MSX - 3.5 Disk
Commodore Amiga - 3.5 Disk - Firebird Edition
Acorn Archimedes - 3.5 Disk - Hybrid Edition
BBC Master Compact - 3.5 Disk - Acornsoft Edition
BBC Model B - Tape - Acornsoft Edition
Acorn Electron - Tape - Acornsoft Edition
Commodore Amiga - 3.5 Disk - Elite Plus
IBM PC VGA - 3.5 Disk - Elite Plus

Phew...

If you want to see any photos of a particular version/edition, let me know, and I will post it up.

I would like to see pictures and screens from.....

Commodore Amiga - 3.5 Disk - Firebird Edition

Commodore Amiga - 3.5 Disk - Elite Plus

IBM PC VGA - 3.5 Disk - Elite Plus

I think they are the ones I want to see.

Otherwise the whomever owns the rights to these games should bundle them all into a official PC emulation for the general public to enjoy.

Impressive.

The only one that I know of that you haven't listed is the Commodore 128/64 version. I'm not sure if that was just a re-boxed CBM 64 version or if any real changes were made.

Hi, there was no official 128 version of Elite, a couple of fan re-engineered versions have popped up over the years. The official version was the C64 Disk Edition, that had a few extras if loaded on to a 128.

As I said, so I once had the original (Original to me only) Commodore 64 version ( And still a copy of it.) and now I am about to own the Commodore 64/128 version, but will only have my original Commodore 64 computer to play it on if I ever do.

What are these extra I get if I load the game onto a Commodore 128 computer?

What the Commodore 64 version of the game missing?

I would love to know this, since I had only ever made it to the status of Deadly after completing both the Trumbles and Constrictor missions. I had even continued to play the game in the second galaxy fully upgrading my Cobra Mark Three and aquiring many, many zeros of credits.

Then one day I stopped.....

Agreed - very nice collection.

I do feel the need to ask one question though - have you reached Elite rank in all of them...?

LOL.... alas no. I did get to Elite on the C64 version, which is the one I got my badge for. My next best was Deadly on the Amiga Version.

You mean there is a badge you get for reaching the starus of Elite.

I totally missed out on that.

I also recall there was contest you could enter by playing the game, but it was over by the close of 1985. A year before I had even purchased the original game. I think it was only in the U.K. though.

Nice collection A true Elite fan. I had original Frontier for Amiga 500 and FFE for Pc Sadly I didnt take care of the boxes as they surely would be collectebles by now. I will give my E.D box better care though. As I have learned from my mistakes

The same could be said for my original Commodore 64 version. I had found the lid to the game box in a old cupboard in the downstairs shed some time late last year and thought I had salvaged it, but now I don't even know where I had safely put it. It was in pretty worse for wear.

Scuffed, scratched and nicked.

I am older and wiser now, and will take extra special care of the replacments I have ordered as well as Elite -Dangerous.

Ahhh the fabled lenslok where have you been all this time?!

It was (IS!) a truely terrible system. Too many times have I suffered with the Speccy editions because of the lenslock.

I 've never had to dealwith Lenslok, although I have had many other games that required that you find a specific word, in specific paragraph on a specific page in the instruction manual and enter into box before they let you proceed with the game. This was very common with the old Dungeons & Dragons games you could buy. It was the very first one I had called Pool of Radience that came with a special decoder wheel. Where you ahd to match actual letters up with funny rune like symbols to find a specific word you had to enter to continue playing.

I actually thought this was more fun than annoying.

Ok something I have never seen before.

What is the Leroy Elite Helpbook that comes with this C64/128 version ? I've never seen it mentioned anywhere before.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Firebirds...vip=true&rt=nc

Anyone have it ? what is in it ?

Sounds like it was not in the original package. I don't know.
@LoudScotBloke can you check your versions and perhaps let us know ?

Ok something I have never seen before.

What is the Leroy Elite Helpbook that comes with this C64/128 version ? I've never seen it mentioned anywhere before.

?

Never seen anything like that before may have been a US only book.

Some thing which has piqued my interest is this Guinness entry for Elite
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/...ng-video-game/

Never heard or seen a copy of Elite for the NEC 9800 series(Japan only), so does it exist or is it a mistake.

Ok something I have never seen before.

What is the Leroy Elite Helpbook that comes with this C64/128 version ? I've never seen it mentioned anywhere before.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Firebirds...vip=true&rt=nc

Anyone have it ? what is in it ?

Sounds like it was not in the original package. I don't know.
@LoudScotBloke can you check your versions and perhaps let us know ?

Leroy's Helpbook for Elite was not boxed with Elite anywhere or at any time. It was written some time later by a company called, Cheatsheet Products. Neither the company nor the author of said book, David Palmer, can any information be obtained through the usual searches.

Well, looks like we have something here....a partial mystery.

I could not find much on the Leroy guide either, no screenshots, no PDF nothing. Only that pic on ebay.

We both discussed this on another thread where I told you I had won that particular version of Elite for the Commodore 64/128.

I will tell you about it when I finally get my hands on it and read it completely or at least skim through it.

I may even scan all of it and post the pictures up here if there's no copyright laws forbidding me to.

Could some one find that out for me please.

 

[Styggron]

Well, that must have been the longest thread I have ever seen.

@CommanderMick

Yes I saw your post in another thread which is why I posted asking about Leroy's book here.

As for running an Amiga Emulator and running Frontier Elite 2, I wrote about doing exactly this in another thread though. Was just trying to find it. In the meantime go to www.amigaforever.com I bought the Premium Pack. Well worth it.

I run FE2 on this because my Amiga is in storage. Plus a 500/A2000 does not run it well. My A2000 has a 030 accelerator on board. An A1200 or A3000 or better still A4000 is the best. I run FE2 on an emulated A4000. Geraldine one of the moderators here has it running on a souped up REAL A4000. She calls it gaming nirvana.....and she'd be right!

Also the C64/128 versions are identical. The C128 just ran Elite in C64 mode so the only difference is the label on the front of the box and part of the instructions that mention C128 that's it.

Also re the Leroy Guide, please contact Steve at www.frontierastro.co.uk he has a visual archive.

@all
Now onto other things ok apparently there are only 2 colours for Lenslok.
-red (which is what copies of Elite had)
-black (which was for other titles)

So no need for me to collect lots of differently coloured lensloks thank goodness. Also it looks like LATER versions of Spetrum Elite did NOT come with a lenslok so the one I just picked up that did not have a lenslok is still "complete". I just now need to find one with but that's ok. Bought enough for the moment.

 

[ozoli]

@all

I had a couple of questions asked about the games in my sig block in another thread, but the answers are more appropriate here, and I'm sure Commander Mick is watching /waves/.

They are all different versions that I own, excepting one of the C64 boxes which is a factory sealed tape version. My assessment of what constitutes "a different version" is as follows:

1. The media is different. eg tape vs disk
2. The packaging is materially different eg Firebird vs Rainbird, or Jewell case vs big box. I also consider that Firebird released three different C64 disk versions of which I have two. Commander Mick has posted the other which has a different title block on the box compared to my C64/128 version.
3. Foreign language versions.

Any other differences are what I consider a variation. This may also include original international distributor stickers such as ozisoft stickers on Australian C64 Elite releases or the red vs black lensloks that may have been included with Spectrum versions of Elite (I'm still seeking hard evidence of black lensloks being included ex factory with these versions despite some eBay auctions including black ones).

I am currently trying to either purchase, or identify owners of, variants that I do not have in my collection with a view to eventually publish a printed coffee-table style book under the working title of Elite Archives which, among other aspects of Elite collecting, would present each version of Elite and it's successors in four page spreads throughout the book. I can post more details of my cunning Elite Archives plan if anyone is interested. This is a long term goal and Frontier have already advised me that writer's packs are currently not available to support this project. Hopefully that will change in the future. In the meantime I am researching and documenting each version that I come across. According to my earlier criteria I have to date identified 35 versions of the original Elite.

Both loudscotsbloke and the frontierastro website have proved invaluable in consolidating my list and collection.

Hopefully I have answered the questions from the other thread, but more than likely I have raised a few extras.

Right on Collectors!

 

[ozoli]

Ok something I have never seen before.

What is the Leroy Elite Helpbook that comes with this C64/128 version ? I've never seen it mentioned anywhere before.

I have seen the Leroy Helpbook included in an eBay auction with the PC version of Elite. This was also from the USA.

 

[Styggron]

@Ozoli

What are the three C64 disk versions ?

There are only 2 C64 versions I know, Tape and Disk and technically the C64/C128 version which is just a C64 version with different cover.

I havent a hope to get all variants. Elite only came with Red Lenslok to the best of my knowledge that I've checked recently.

 

[Gimi]

@Ozoli

What are the three C64 disk versions ?

There are only 2 C64 versions I know, Tape and Disk and technically the C64/C128 version which is just a C64 version with different cover.

I havent a hope to get all variants. Elite only came with Red Lenslok to the best of my knowledge that I've checked recently.

There was a localised German version for the C64 I believe. Not sure if it was tape, disk, tape and disk, game only, game and box with documentation.

Would that count as separate versions?

 

[Spacegamer]

@all
I am currently trying to either purchase, or identify owners of, variants that I do not have in my collection with a view to eventually publish a printed coffee-table style book under the working title of Elite Archives which, among other aspects of Elite collecting, would present each version of Elite and it's successors in four page spreads throughout the book. I can post more details of my cunning Elite Archives plan if anyone is interested.

I for one would like to hear more although I would suggest starting a new thread for it.

 

[CaptSolo]

On the subject of every version of Elite, I am considering trying FFE d3d. Only concern is how well it will perform on my six year old pc:
Intel 2658 Mhz
3 gigs of Ram
Intel onboard graphics

 

[Commander Mick]

My Replacement Copy of the Original Elite

I have received my almost mint copy of the original Elite for C64/128. I arrived within a larger box as you may expect and I not sure wether it was yesterday or today as I had to look round the blind spot of front door, the right hand side of it to find this box. Not sure how long it had been sitting there.

As I took the box inside and opened it with a knife, pulling out the plastic airbag cushioning my precious cargo. The removed the old box that was mildly weathered but in still reasonably acceptable condition. There was nothing securing the lid to the rest of the box. I think my original was like that. Although there may have been shrink wrap. I opened the box to find the Ship- Identification-Chart on top. For lack of better purchase, I carefully tipped out the contents into my other hand and searched for the most sort after original game disk. Noticing the Leroy-Elite-Help-Guide with nearly unrestrained satisfaction, but I still couldn't find the game disk. The elusive game disk. As I check in between the new help guide.....

The Quick-Key-Control-Card, The -Dark-Wheel-Novella, Space-Flight-Traders-Manual. Ah all the books were there. But where was th game! Had I been duped into buying jus the Elite game box and physical media minus the game disk....

No, it was simply hidden within the folds of the Ship-Identification-Chart along with the Key-Board-Overlay.

I took it out of it's paper sleeve to carefully inspect it and saw that it looked as new as the day I first unboxed my original copy of the game.

I will check to see if it works later once I receive the once missing RV-Commodore 64-to-Moniter-Cord (Also ordered through Ebay) and find the rest of my old computer. So I can test it and play. Perhaps even retrieve my old saved gamed if I can find the old save disks I used.

I had a quick look through the new Leroy-Help-Guide and found that it's filled with further explanation on how to survive and do well in this game. The is some detailed information on some lucrative planetary runs and a add for the official Elite-Tee-Shirt with the golden Fire-Bird insignia and some plastic see-thru Key-Board-Overlays also for Elite (With more Information) and some other games.

I will elaborate on this later.....

Possibly with photos and maybe even a video uploaded to You-Tube

I may even scan the entire Leroy-Help-Guide and put it up somewhere for all to see, if that's not breaking any copyright laws.

But later, I have other stuff I have to do now.

 

[Commander Mick]

Did I mention that the Ship-Identification-Chart is slightly damaged. The paper is chipped right where the picture of the Transporter is and some of the pages of the manual were a bit stuck together. It was no problem separating them, though there is irreversible damage right at the bottom of some of the pages as some of the surface didn't entirely come apart when separated. It's only minor though.

A small patch of the surfacer of the back cover down at the bottom shows the same signs of being stuck to something and losing some of it's surface when separated. It's only right at the bottom in a small area though.

Apart from that, the books are in acceptable condition, as is the box they came in.

The novella is near mint.

The Leroy-Help-Guide is written by the very first person to reach the status of Elite in the game from the U.S.A.

Can anybody guess who he is?

I have the name, but was wondering if anybody else knew of him.

Perhaps he uses the forum or lurks here.

Would be interesting if he came forward now or have been interesting if he had came forward earlier during the Kick-Starter.

After another more thorough look through the guide he appears to give very sound advice.

There is also information on the missions. The ones that I played.....

The Trumbles

The Constrictor

And the ones I hadn't encountered yet.....

The Smuggling of Information about the Thargoid Homeworld

The Cloaked Ship

He mentions these last two start when you have increased you statistic of kills beyond that of Deadly and have reached the third galaxy and maybe other galaxies.

I'm not sure if I had travelled this far myself and got bored of it and ceased playing before then.

There was mention of the Elite Tornament for skilled players who have reached Elite status.

I vaguely remember reading about this somewhere back in the late 80's.

Perhaps it was from a computer magazine.

So, is it okay if I scan the entire book with computer photo-copier and share it here.

 

[ozoli]

The Leroy-Help-Guide is written by the very first person to reach the status of Elite in the game from the U.S.A.

Can anybody guess who he is?

It wouldn't be David Palmer by any chance?

 

[Commander Mick]

Yes, just let me check.......

AFK

I'm back!

Yes, it is David Palmer.

It's interesting that they say he's the first person in the U.S. to reach Elite in the game and not the world.

Does this mean there might be another player who was first to reach Elite status world-wide or do they actually mean that when referring to David Palmer.

Is the U.S. the whole world or other Elite pilots/players from the rest of the world never mattered.

Do you know him personally Ozoli?

I wonder if he lurks on this forum?

 

[Styggron]

On the subject of every version of Elite, I am considering trying FFE d3d. Only concern is how well it will perform on my six year old pc:
Intel 2658 Mhz
3 gigs of Ram
Intel onboard graphics

easy peasy.

 

[Styggron]

Did I mention that the Ship-Identification-Chart is slightly damaged. The paper is chipped right where the picture of the Transporter is and some of the pages of the manual were a bit stuck together. It was no problem separating them, though there is irreversible damage right at the bottom of some of the pages as some of the surface didn't entirely come apart when separated. It's only minor though.

A small patch of the surfacer of the back cover down at the bottom shows the same signs of being stuck to something and losing some of it's surface when separated. It's only right at the bottom in a small area though.

Apart from that, the books are in acceptable condition, as is the box they came in.

The novella is near mint.

The Leroy-Help-Guide is written by the very first person to reach the status of Elite in the game from the U.S.A.

Can anybody guess who he is?

I have the name, but was wondering if anybody else knew of him.

Perhaps he uses the forum or lurks here.

Would be interesting if he came forward now or have been interesting if he had came forward earlier during the Kick-Starter.

After another more thorough look through the guide he appears to give very sound advice.

There is also information on the missions. The ones that I played.....

The Trumbles

The Constrictor

And the ones I hadn't encountered yet.....

The Smuggling of Information about the Thargoid Homeworld

The Cloaked Ship

He mentions these last two start when you have increased you statistic of kills beyond that of Deadly and have reached the third galaxy and maybe other galaxies.

I'm not sure if I had travelled this far myself and got bored of it and ceased playing before then.

There was mention of the Elite Tornament for skilled players who have reached Elite status.

I vaguely remember reading about this somewhere back in the late 80's.

Perhaps it was from a computer magazine.

So, is it okay if I scan the entire book with computer photo-copier and share it here.

You're typing with too many line spaces again

 

[Styggron]

Missing version !!

Hey there's missing version of Frontier Elite 2 in the pic !!!

A HA !!!!!!!!!!!

There should be

1- Amiga version - Floppy disk
2- Amiga CD32 - CD Rom
3- Atari ST version - Floppy disk
4- PC version - CD Rom
5- PC Version - Floppy disk

He's missing ONE version. :smilie:

 

[ozoli]

Yes, just let me check.......

AFK

I'm back!

Yes, it is David Palmer.

It's interesting that they say he's the first person in the U.S. to reach Elite in the game and not the world.

Does this mean there might be another player who was first to reach Elite status world-wide or do they actually mean that when referring to David Palmer.

Is the U.S. the whole world or other Elite pilots/players from the rest of the world never mattered.

Do you know him personally Ozoli?

I wonder if he lurks on this forum?

Before my incredible knowledge of ancient Elite lore becomes legend, I should come clean by confessing to reading the lower portion of the Leroy's Elite Helpbook cover which says "by David Palmer" and no, I do not know him personally.

 

[ozoli]

Frontier - Elite II

Hey there's missing version of Frontier Elite 2 in the pic !!!

A HA !!!!!!!!!!!

There should be

1- Amiga version - Floppy disk
2- Amiga CD32 - CD Rom
3- Atari ST version - Floppy disk
4- PC version - CD Rom
5- PC Version - Floppy disk

He's missing TWO versions. :smilie:

Yikes!!! I'd better deploy my ECM (Emoticon Counter Measures)

I need to update my signature picture, but I keep tracking down more different versions and/or variants of the three games. The picture has the following (L to R)

1. Amiga - 3 1/2" floppy disk (box missing barcode sticker - not a different version, just a frustration )
2. Amiga - 3 1/2" floppy disk (German version)
3. Amiga CD32 - CD-ROM
4. IBM PC - 3 1/2" floppy disk

Not shown in my sig pic, I also have (or are waiting for Australia Post to deliver) the following:
5. Amiga - 3 1/2" floppy disk ("Special Promotional Pack - Not for Resale" variant)
6. Atari ST - 3 1/2" floppy disk
7. Atari ST - 3 1/2" floppy disk (French version)
8. IBM PC - 3 1/2" floppy disk (early version without CU Amiga review on box front)
9. IBM PC - 3 1/2" floppy disk (early USA version with blue IBM PC sticker and no CU Amiga review)
10. Atari ST - 3 1/2" floppy disk (early French version without CU Amiga review on box front)

@Styggron Can I have your IBM PC CD-ROM version of FFE?

 

[Styggron]

You have far more than I could EVER. My collection is quite humble in comparison.

 

[ozoli]

@Ozoli

What are the three C64 disk versions ?

There are only 2 C64 versions I know, Tape and Disk and technically the C64/C128 version which is just a C64 version with different cover.

Sorry for the late reply on this one. There are what I consider to be two distinct English versions of Elite on disk for the C64. I had thought that Commander Mick's was a third, but I am less confident now, although the box does have a different title on the cover. I suspect that it may simply be a variant of the standard disk version.

I have two disk versions for the C64. Each version can be identified by looking at the diagonal 'GOLD EDITION' logo on the lower RHS of the disk label. If it has no writing directly above the logo then it is the standard version that was released on the C64. If it has the words 'COMMODORE 64' directly above and in line with the diagonal 'GOLD EDITION' logo then it is the later version which was released with the C64/C128 boxed set.

I have just loaded both onto my C64 to refresh my memory and, unlike the standard version, the later version has music playing at the 'LOAD NEW COMMANDER?" screen. The standard version does not. I have not investigated any further differences at this time, nor have I tried the later version on my C128. If there is anything to report I'll repost the news.

The later C64/C128 disk version that I own has only one element in common with the original UK/Australian release, that being the C64 keyboard overlay. The box is physically shorter (only by a few mm) and has a different title, the Elite logo is present on all four sides of the box, and it has a different image and review comment on the back of the box. Inside, the manual and quick key control guide have different colour backgrounds in the title blocks and they are physically shorter in line with the box. The manual was also published by Firebird New Jersey unlike the UK/Australian release which was published by Firebird London. The Dark Wheel novella is also physically shorter. The reduced size appears deliberate and not just a printing deviation as the cover images have also been slightly reduced in size to fit.

There is definitely a German version on cassette which contains versions of the manuals translated into German. I have yet to confirm a German disk version, though I see no reason why such a version would not exist.